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Golf: Bill Haas in good shape to defend title at Riviera

By Doug FergusonThe Associated Press

Sat., Feb. 16, 2013

LOS ANGELES, CALIF.—Bill Haas had another bogey-free round at Riviera on Saturday for a 7-under 64 — the best round of the day by three shots — that gave him a three-stroke lead going into the final round of the Northern Trust Open.

On a warm afternoon off Sunset Boulevard that made the greens even faster, Haas turned in a remarkable score. The key was a seven-hole stretch in the middle of his round that he played in 6-under par, including a 60-foot pitch that dropped for eagle on the scary par-4 10th hole.

Bill Haas had a superb third round and heads into action Sunday in prime position to defend his title at the Northern Trust Open in Los Angeles. (DANNY MOLOSHOK / REUTERS)

He was at 12-under 201 and will try to become only the eighth back-to-back winner in the 76-year history of this tournament.

All he cares about Sunday is winning.

“It’s very difficult in this game to just pull away from the rest of the field,” Haas said. “You’ve only seen a few guys ever really do that, and those are guys like Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson. So I think I’ve just got to stay in the moment, don’t let my emotions get the best of me.”

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A year ago, Haas was two shots behind going into the final round and wound up winning in a playoff over Mickelson and Keegan Bradley. This time, he has a comfortable margin over U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson and former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel, who each thought they did well for a 68.

John Merrick bogeyed the 18th hole for a 70 and joined Simpson and Schwartzel at 9-under 204.

Luke Donald overcame a sloppy start — three bogeys in a six-hole stretch — with four birdies on the back nine to salvage a 70 that put him four shots behind, along with Fredrik Jacobson (72).

Mickelson was hopeful of making a move and instead went the other direction. He missed three par putts of about six feet on the front nine and had a 72, putting him nine shots behind. Ernie Els, playing with Mickelson, also dropped shots early and dropped out of the hunt with a 73.

Graham DeLaet of Weyburn, Sask., shot 2 under to sit eight shots off the pace in a tie for 13th.

The round started with 20 players separated by five shots. Thanks to Haas and his flawless play, only eight players were within five of the lead.

It might not be easy for anyone to catch up to Haas if the sunshine continues to bake Riviera. The fairways were so firm that tee shots were running some 50 yards after they landed, and the greens were firm enough that balls ran out an extra two feet around the hole.

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Most impressive about how Haas has gone around Riviera in the last few days is 40 consecutive holes without a bogey. The last one he made was on Thursday when he missed a 4-foot putt.

But on this day, it was his birdies and one eagle that made the difference.

“I was just kind of plugging along out there and then all of a sudden, made a nice putt at 9, chip-in at 10, good up-and-down at 11,” he said.

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